No Mercy MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. No Mercy creates an aversive battlefield, deterring attacks and conserving players’ resources efficiently.
  2. Despite its strength, reliance on the graveyard and specific mana needs present strategic drawbacks.
  3. Its unique ability to influence game flow makes No Mercy a valuable asset in control decks.

Text of card

Whenever a creature successfully deals damage to you, destroy it.

"We had years to prepare, while they had mere minutes." —Kerrick, sleeper agent


Card Pros

Card Advantage: No Mercy has the unique ability to deter opponents from attacking you, as it destroys any creature that deals damage to you. This passive effect can give you considerable card advantage over time, reducing the number of threats you need to handle directly with your spells and resources.

Resource Acceleration: While No Mercy doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in terms of mana, it does indirectly provide resource acceleration by preserving your life total and preventing the need to invest in other creature-removal spells or board wipes to stay alive. This allows you to allocate your mana and cards towards advancing your game plan instead.

Instant Speed: Although No Mercy is not an instant-speed spell, its ongoing presence on the battlefield acts at instant speed. Once in play, it offers a constant threat to your opponents, effectively ‘working’ during each opponent’s turn by creating a state where attacking you becomes a costly decision. This can lead to opponents hesitating or altering their strategies on the fly, which is a powerful influence to have at your disposal without spending additional mana.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to No Mercy is its reliance on your graveyard. If your graveyard is empty or low on cards, its defensive utility can be significantly hampered, leaving you vulnerable to enemy attacks.

Specific Mana Cost: No Mercy’s strict black mana requirement makes it less flexible, demanding a dedicated or heavily weighted black mana base which could complicate your mana curve and limit deck-building options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including three black mana symbols, No Mercy might be seen as a costly investment. This may lead players to consider other defense options that provide similar protection at a lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include No Mercy in Your Collection

Versatility: No Mercy is an impactful card that can be slotted into various control-oriented decks within the game. This black enchantment is ideal for players who prefer a defensive strategy, deterring opponents from attacking due to its punishing effect.

Combo Potential: The card works seamlessly with strategies that focus on discouraging attacks from opponents. It becomes increasingly powerful when combined with effects that force opponents to attack, leading to an inevitable loss of their creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive creature-based strategies are prevalent, No Mercy serves as a formidable deterrent. Often, just the presence of this card on the battlefield can significantly alter the way opponents play the game, giving you a psychological edge.


How to beat

No Mercy is an iconic card known for its formidable defense by deterring opponents from attacking. When facing this enchantment, the key is to employ strategies that don’t rely solely on combat damage. Attacking isn’t just about dealing damage but can also be about triggering abilities or gaining advantage. Thus, indirect forms of damage such as burn spells or abilities that can damage an opponent regardless of whether they attack can circumvent No Mercy’s effects.

Card removal is another effective method. Enchantment removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize can dismantle No Mercy before it becomes a hurdle. A well-timed removal can not only protect your creatures from its intimidating effect but open the door for a full-scale assault. Alternatively, including hexproof or indestructible creatures in your deck can negate the deterrent effect of No Mercy, since those creatures would be unaffected by its destructive ability, leading to a more aggressive gameplay approach.

Players might also consider strategies revolving around non-creature spells or utilizing creatures that can attack without becoming a target of No Mercy’s ability. It requires understanding the meta and building a deck that’s versatile in the face of such formidable enchantments in the MTG universe.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is a continuous quest, and No Mercy is a card that embodies strategic depth in its purest form. It’s an exemplary deterrent that can shift the tide of battle by making opponents think twice before attacking. Aspiring tacticians and defenders of the game will find No Mercy an indispensable addition to their arsenal. Elevate your defensive game and outwit opponents with this potent enchantment. Looking to fine-tune your deck or seeking new strategies to incorporate No Mercy effectively? Join in on the discussion and enhance your gameplay. Discover more and elevate your MTG experience with our insights and tips.


Cards like No Mercy

No Mercy is an intriguing enchantment within the card pool of Magic: The Gathering, possessing a unique deterrent effect. It can be likened to Dread, another card that discourages opponents from attacking you by destroying any creature that deals damage to you. Unlike Dread, No Mercy doesn’t require regeneration and permanency on the battlefield, offering a more absolute defense.

Another card worth mentioning is Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, which not only destroys any creature that damages you, similar to No Mercy, but also provides you with a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying. Teysa’s ability, however, is tied to a creature rather than an enchantment, making it more vulnerable to removal in contrast to the steadfast protective nature of No Mercy.

Ultimately, No Mercy presents itself as a powerful card for deterring attacks, standing out among its counterparts due to its unconditional and non-targeted destruction mechanic, making it a formidable tool in controlling the pace of the game and safeguarding your life total.

Dread - MTG Card versions
Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts - MTG Card versions
Dread - MTG Card versions
Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts - MTG Card versions

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Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Parasitic Bond - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase No Mercy MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and Amonkhet Invocations, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the No Mercy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The No Mercy Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 561997NormalBlackMark Tedin
22017-04-28Amonkhet InvocationsMP2 432015NormalBorderlessJonas De Ro
32023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3081997NormalBlackMark Tedin
42023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 952015NormalBlackMark Tedin
52023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4272015NormalBorderlessRon Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where No Mercy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering No Mercy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-12-08 No Mercy’s ability triggers whenever any creature, including creatures you control, deals damage to you, not only combat damage.

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